Book Title: Arham Pregnancy
Author(s): Pravin Rishi Upadhyay, Pratibha Jain
Publisher: Anand Tirth Kendriya Foundation

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Page 124
________________ negative impact on the aura of the mother and child. Season and place have a strong connection with healthy food. Kalpa Sutra (verse 92) states that one must eat meals that have seasonal compatibility. It is best to eat vegetables and fruits that are easily available in that season. Whatever grows in a specific region benefits the inhabitants of that region. Such foods contain the qualities of that soil. She must be cheerful while eating and chew the food well, eating neither too fast nor too slow. She must pay special attention to her digestive capacity. She must not eat the second meal before the first one has been digested. The atmosphere in the kitchen and dining area must be clean, cheerful and pure. If all these rules can be incorporated under one rule, then it is being sensitive to the body. Our body has the capacity to give us the clear indication and guidance for its well-being. During pregnancy, some food items are beneficial both for the mother and child: Milk products such as cow's milk, ghee, butter, buttermilk, and paneer. Spices such as carom seeds (ajwain), dried ginger (saunth), cumin (jeera), pepper and 122 pipramool can be included in the diet. Cereals such as rice, wheat, barley; and pulses such as red gram (tur), green gram, bengal gram, dried peas and soya beans. Fruits such as bananas, oranges, sweet lime, apples, chiccoo, guava, grapes, gooseberries and pomegranate. Vegetables, especially the leafy ones, in sumptuous quantity. Nuts such as walnuts, dates and raisins. Chewing on coconut and rock sugar lends beauty to the eyes of the baby. Herbs such as brahmi and shatavari improve the child's mental faculties. Also recommended are groundnuts, soaked almonds and coconut water. During pregnancy, the mother must stay away from fast foods, carbonated drinks, packed foods and instant foods. The newspapers are full of the harmful effects of all of these. Before consuming anything from outside, try to know what it contains. Avoid refrigerated foods. If she has to consume refrigerated foods, then it must be allowed to thaw first. Since we are speaking about sattvik foods, vegetarian food becomes compulsory as well. She must eat at the right time and not undertake fasting during this period. The Agamas have stated this quite clearly. A woman who is pregnant has two souls

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